Pubdate: Sun, 21 Jan 2001
Source: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: Allied Press Limited, 2001
Contact:  P.O. Box 181, 52-66 Lower Stuart Street, Dunedin, New Zealand
Website: http://www2.odt.co.nz
Author: NZPA
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

MINISTERS STUDY CANNABIS LAWS

Wellington: The Government has begun work on reviewing the legal status of 
cannabis, with Justice Minister Phil Goff and Health Minister Annette King 
going on a fact-finding mission to Australia.

Mr Goff and Mrs King met police and health officials from the State 
Government in Adelaide on Tuesday to examine the long-standing South 
Australian practice of issuing instant fines for minor cannabis offences.

Mrs King said yesterday the idea had merit but there was a lot of work to 
be done before considering whether it could be introduced in New Zealand.

The Labour-Alliance coalition supports the view of Parliament's health 
select committee, which recommended in December 1998, after an eight-month 
inquiry and 70 submissions, that the legal status of cannabis be reviewed.

Mrs King said that since the mid-1980s, South Australia had treated 
possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use as an offence 
attracting a fine of between $50 and $150 rather than as a crime dealt with 
through the courts.

The approach was also used to educate people about the health risks of the 
drug.

"I think there is some merit in it. I think that it is worthwhile us 
getting more information on and putting it into the discussion."

Mrs King said Australia was a good place to study alternative approaches to 
cannabis, as its states had different laws.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager